Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-16
CLOSING THE CIVIL WAR
The Lust thHrac Was on a Bran,
Barrel and the Last shot Was Over IL.

The Lust thlr.c Was on a Trand,
Barrel and the Last shot Was over II.
The man who claims tu have ordered
the last shot fired on the Confederate sid,
during the late unplcnsantncss is Mr.
\. Is. FarclOrh. Ot Camilla Ga. a gentle,
man as modest as he is brave. The Incl.
dent was told us by Capt. u. II. Sanders.
an old cnmradc in arms Of Mr. Faircloth.
and forms a unique feature in the un.
written history Of the great struggle Mr..
Faircloth belonged 10 Company c, Second
Georgia cavalry.
Lee had surrendered. Johnston had
surrendered. only Kirby Smith remained
at the head of armed resistance The
ConfcderaCy was in its death throcs.
Wheeler determined not to surrender his
men. but To force his way across the cUun.
try Ia join Smith west of the Mississippi.
To this end he procured the removal Of
his command from JOhustOu's army, and
started upon one of the most hazardous
retreats in the annals of war While
everywhere Confederate troops wer,
grounding their arms, taking the oath OF
allegiance TO the United States govern
mcnt and returning I" their homes, this
little band under their gallant leader re
fused to lower the stars and bars
WhcclCr's bold movement was kept a
profound secret, known only tO his own
men and Gen. Johnston. All thought that
the war was over. The Fcdtcals came
freely into the lines uf their late foes and
there was general intermngling of the
blue aud gray" Ii fell to the lot oi
Company G to guard Whcelcr'S rear \
barrel Of brandy was discovered Just inside
the reserve picket line and those old
veterans. with true sOldicrly instinct soon
tapped il and were fast getting into Il
hilarious condition. The lieutenant in
command Of the picket guards was in a
short time unable To- distinguish Con
federate from Il "lank. " and was relieved
by Mr.. fairClOth, the orderly sergeant.
The aroma Of that brandy was waited to
the ulfaCturic- of the Union soldiers, and
soon a troop of cavalry was seen coming
AT hcadlong charge upon that barrel.
Scrgt. FaIrcloth ubeycd the orders of
his chief, and the dashiug squadron was
received with a VUlley from their picket
line. They were dumfounded, and with
out returning the fire showed a white flag
The sergeant advanced To parley with the
bearer of the tlag of truce
Nv hat the deuce did you fire fOrs Don't
You know the war il over This was
jerked ont b. the spokesman on the other
side
Il obeyed orders" calmly replied the
sergeant No troops can pass my line"
But, man, Johnston has surrendered,
and the war is over. Come, let us pass,
we want 10 taste that brandy over there ."
Il must carry out my orders,' stOutly
maintained Ser-gt. FairCloth, ''and if your
men advance they will be fired upon.
But he added, Il am expecting orders
calling to my men every minute, and if
you will wait perhaps you may get drop
of the brandy"
Strange 10 say the troop waited. and
the order came. Then there was grand
rush for the barrel-when johnny Reb"
and 'Gank' got ON "a drunk together.
This was the last shot fired in the late
war, and the incident, now published for
the first time, will be read with interest
by those who participated i'll the novel
scene, rs well as the general public To
complete the story it only remains to tell
that, acting under the advice of Johnston.
Wheeler gave over his daring attempt
and. turning over his men to the brigade
reGimcutal and company commanders tn
act as they saw tit. gathered about him Il
few bold spirits. and started to join the
head of the CunfrderaCy in his effort To
escape his Observation-Disclosures Herald.